Potential Fix for DRM removal?

KidJoe

Like others, I began having issues with DRM Removal. When trying to remove DRM from movies, it would look like its working, get to a percentage, then I'd get a crash from iTunes and while the DRM removal process didn't successfully complete, DVDFab reported Success and went on to the next movie... and the cycle repeated for all movies in the queue.

(see -> https://forum.dvdfab.cn/forum/dvdfab-english/dvdfab-drm-removal/376628-always-fails-at-66-with-itunes-12-9-0-167-and-dvdfab-11-0-6-6 )

Frustrated, I tried removing and re-installing iTunes, downgrading it, etc. Nothing seemed to work.

After more experimenting, It is finally working again... at least so far anyway...

Here is what I did...

Delete any downloaded media (movies and music) in iTunes
In iTunes, Deauthorize the computer, then exit iTunes.
Uninstall iTunes following -> https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204275
Search for, and remove any left over iTunes folders, including the iTunes data folders including from C:\Users\[USERID]\AppData\Local, C:\Users\[USERID]\AppData\Roaming, My Documents, My Music, etc.
Uninstall DVDFab
Reboot
Download the iTunes installer using the link contained in -> https://forum.dvdfab.cn/forum/dvdfab-english/dvdfab-drm-removal/375941-itunes-12-10-3-support?p=375972#post375972
Install iTunes and make sure you UN-Select the box to auto update iTunes!!
Launch iTunes and sign in
While in iTunes, Authorize the computer, and edit preferences, and check the box for iTunes to share library as XML
Download the latest DVDFab installer from the web site
Install DVDFab
Reboot
Launch and Authenticate DVDFab
Install the DRM removal module

After doing that, I downloaded 1 movie in iTunes to test. The process completed and the movie was playable without DRM! So I downloaded a few more movies, and its been working!!

As of right now, I've got through 5 movies. Before doing the steps above I couldn't even complete 1 properly!

signals

Thanks for this valuable feedback, Im sure it will be helpful to many users. As I advised in the other thread about this, if you have a working version of iTunes, do not update it.

I am honoring your hard work on this with stickyhood for your thread. :) Thanks again.

KidJoe

Just wanted to write a follow up...

I usually don't need to do more than a couple or so movies. But as a test, I downloaded about 109 movies in iTunes. iTunes did fail downloading some of those movies, give me a "connection reset" error, and I had to restart those downloads.

Once the downloads were completed, I added them to the DRM Removal queue in DVDFab.

Upon starting, the first 10 to 14 complete successfully (I forgot to count the exact number). After that, each movie fails, and DRM Removal status shows the word FAILED in red. iTunes did NOT crash. After clicking Finish button, the failed movies are still on the list, saying "ready to start", so I don't need to re-add them... Instead, I click Start, and it goes... again 10 to 14 complete successfully, and the rest fail, so I repeat pressing finish, then the start button... and keep going until the next batch is done...

So far 54 are have completed successfully in 3 runs, and play outside of iTunes. I'm doing run 4 now.

So it looks like as long as I keep my DRM Removal queue at 10 or under, they will all be successful when I return to the PC... But if I exceed 10 or so, I may have to re-run for those that failed. And its nice that DVDFab now reports FAILED for those that have.

KidJoe

Another update.... During run #4... I was actually at my PC while it was running. After the 9th movie, iTunes prompted me saying it needed a library to continue with options of create new, select existing. I clicked Select Existing. I was promtped to select an ITL file. I selected the one in My Docs\My Music\iTunes folder (the default folder for iTunes). The DRM Removal process has continued without failure.

I wonder if getting that prompt was the reason mine failed before, and I just was never in front of my PC to see it?

I'm not sure if I'll be able to stay in front of my PC for the remainder of the movies in the queue to see if it pops up again. Hopefully I will.

At this point though, I am up to 64 movies having successfully completed, and the DRM-Removed versions are playable outside iTunes.

norbit

This is very helpful! Followed your suggestions and this work-around worked! Thanks sooo much!!

PerK

Corfirm it works both on buying and rental movies.. THX

signals

Of course, this is designed to work with content that you own, not time shifting rentals for highly convenient viewing, but thanks for that feedback.

KidJoe

Of course, this is designed to work with content that you own, not time shifting rentals for highly convenient viewing, but thanks for that feedback.
signals

Yup. Everyone I tested with are titles that are in iTunes due to Movies Anywhere digital copies... And one or two early digital copies redeemed in iTunes way way back..

signals

Correctamundo! :)

KidJoe

Just wanted to follow up. Its still working. I haven't updated Itunes.

At some point however, I hope DVDFAB can fix this so that DRM Removal works with newer iTunes versions. Knowing Apple, at some point we'll need to upgrade iTunes.

KidJoe

And I just ran into failures again. DVDFab has recently been updated to 11.8.4. Itunes hasn't been updated, its still at v12.9.0.167.

I purchased 4 movies. they all fail. I don't see iTunes being launched in the back ground like I used it.

I have *NOT* done any testing or attempts to fix yet.

dreamin47

I upgraded the day it came out, had no problems with the movies I rented. Also I changed graphic cards from AMD to twin Nvidia via SLI and I will say WHAT a DIFFERENCE in speed, But no problems in DMR process. I'm also running 2 harddrives one for boot the other storage and have always kept FAB and iTunes on separate drives.

KidJoe

And I just ran into failures again. DVDFab has recently been updated to 11.8.4. Itunes hasn't been updated, its still at v12.9.0.167.

I purchased 4 movies. they all fail. I don't see iTunes being launched in the back ground like I used it.

I have *NOT* done any testing or attempts to fix yet.
KidJoe

Its something on my Primary PC. My Surface Pro still runs fine and its DVDFab has been updated, but its iTunes hasn't. Unfortunately the SurfacePro is an older one so even removing DRM is slow. :(

I tried the steps outlined above on my primary PC, it didn't help. One thing I am noticing is iTunes sometimes doesn't start when I double click its icon (outside of using DVDFab). I'm not sure whats going on there. Using Apple's "full" Un-install instructions hasn't helped.

KidJoe

Its something on my Primary PC. My Surface Pro still runs fine and its DVDFab has been updated, but its iTunes hasn't. Unfortunately the SurfacePro is an older one so even removing DRM is slow. :(

I tried the steps outlined above on my primary PC, it didn't help. One thing I am noticing is iTunes sometimes doesn't start when I double click its icon (outside of using DVDFab). I'm not sure whats going on there. Using Apple's "full" Un-install instructions hasn't helped.

KidJoe

FIXED IT!

It may (or may not) have had something to do with having iCloud installed once. I just remembered. My wife used to use an iPhone years back with MY ITUNES account. Her photos were all backed up to my iCloud account. When I got an iPad recently for work and didn't have enough space to back it up to iCloud, I figured I'd get her pictures off there (since they took up the bulk of the space). Since the web was limited to downloading 1000 pictures at a time I tried the Windows App to sync the photos. It didn't work properly (the app said downloading, made folders, but no pictures showed), so I un-installed iCloud.

So this time, BEFORE executing the steps in Post #1 above again... I installed/uninstalled iCloud from the Microsoft Store. Then ran through the steps in post #1, and my first movie as a test worked fine.

NOTE: Apparently apps installed from the Microsoft Store are not listed in the Control Panel -> Programs and Features to uninstall them. So to uninstall iCloud, I just right clicked its Start Menu Icon and selected Uninstall from the pop up.

I purchased a few more movies (gotta love the MoviesAnywhere $5 sales!), so I'll try them later today and report back.

EDIT: Keep in mind that all this time, my Surface Pro kept running fine, and DRM Removal kept working. So while fixing my primary PC was on the "to do" list, it wasn't a priority, since the Surface worked.

KidJoe

Just ran a test of 15 movies (some just purchased, some I already owned) and they all worked. SO what was reported in Post #14 and #1 did fix my issue again..

Justin

tried from post 1 and still not working audio only

slottedpig

While this thread is great news, im still frightened by the fact that we havent seen an update to the DRM feature. Some other programs that USED to offer this have since stopped working completely because Apple has figured out a way to block them on OSX. Most ive seen dont work after 10.12. Being on windows I figured we would fare better, but now using a very outdated iTunes is something that is temporary. I understand that no company wants to give refunds etc, but if this is a dead product, at least let us know. There are many threads about this and in more then one it was said there would be an update at the end of april. Its may 10th and still no word on whether we are going to be ok or not with this. It seems the mods are engaged in the convo and I think everyone would love to hear from them directly about this update and whether it is coming or not.

Justin

no company has managed to crack the new encryption yet I have checked

KidJoe

... and in more then one it was said there would be an update at the end of april. Its may 10th and still no word on whether we are going to be ok or not with this. It seems the mods are engaged in the convo and I think everyone would love to hear from them directly about this update and whether it is coming or not.
slottedpig

I sent an email for support (wiped my phone before signing out of Video Downloader) and I did get a canned message back that due to COVID-19 support is working remotely. I wonder if that is having any impact? Then again, if as Justin says, no one has cracked the new encryption, then working remotely isn't the problem. :(

While it works for me for now, I've posted in other threads that I would love to see an updated version of DRM Removal that works with newer iTunes versions. I have this fear of Apple mandating people use an updated iTunes version for movie or music downloads and then we'd be out of luck. :(

If I hadn't purchased a long time ago, and was coming to these forums to see how it works,etc trying to decide before buying... I'd hold off for now... But when I consider for as long as I've had it, and as many times as I've used it, I have got my monies worth. But yeah, for someone considering buying now its "buyer beware"...

slottedpig

no company has managed to crack the new encryption yet I have checked
Justin

tune4win has in their update notes that it is working...

https://www.tune4win.com/update-m4v-windows-plus.html

Personally their software is not nearly as good as dvdfab, but if they got it to work then we may be ok...not sure about link posting either so if it is a violation then im sorry...